A year of local history

2006 Mishawaka Heritage calendar available.

2006 Mishawaka Heritage calendar available.

December 30, 2005|LAUREEN FAGAN Tribune Staff Writer

Linda Sears watched one gentleman walk up to the counter at the Bittersweet Branch of the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library and look at the new Mishawaka Heritage calendar. "Oh, I remember that," he said, flipping through the pages of the 2006 edition, one that features 13 historical street and building scenes. "Doesn't look like that now." But the photos peaked his interest -- and that's just what the calendar, offered by Friends of the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library, should do, explained Sears, manager of the branch. "It's a fundraiser for the (library group)," she said. "It's also a way to highlight some of the photos that we have in the Heritage Center." There's a shot of the Kamm & Schellinger Brewery on the cover, one that reflects the sepia tones of vintage photos. It's there that the 100 Center stands today, she said. Another, for the month of June, shows the Lowe Brothers Lumber Yard in 1912. It was located on the east side of Main Street, between Fourth Street and the railroad tracks. "This is designed by Connie Johnston, and she is the supervisor of the Heritage collection," Sears said. "She makes that decision." Sears loves the photo of the Osceola Public Library. "Which is no longer in existence," she said of the artwork for November, a photo of the building at Beech Road and Superior Street in Osceola. "That's where I started working," she said, adding that her first library job was there from 1980 to 1986. "This was the Moran house, and the Morans were the ones the school was named after." It's nostalgic for her because the branch closed when Bittersweet opened. But it's not just nostalgia the libraries are selling. "I think with this particular one, it shows the development through the years (and) how some things remain the same and how some things have been modified," Sears said. "Dave Eisen is really interested in the history of the area," Sears said, speaking about the director of the entire library system. "That's why we have such a great collection in the Heritage Room at downtown Mishawaka." And it's one the Friends of the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library are eager to share with the community, offering the $5 calendars at all library locations as well as the Borders store on Grape Road. "The money goes to the Friends organization," Sears said. "It gets fed back into the community for speakers, children's programs and special collections." Generally, she added, the funds are for things the library system perhaps can't afford. But Mishawaka pride matters, too -- and there's something for everyone. The May shot of children's librarian Bettie Alice Scherzinger dates to 1953 in the Carnegie Library. But many people will remember her from the 1980s at the downtown Mishawaka Library. On the other hand, it might be interesting for the younger set to see with fresh eyes. Chances are, of course, they've never seen the Mishawaka Grain and Coal Co. building on Union Street, likely from the 1930s era. Or the 1959 Karlin Drugs. The calendar is a great -- and inexpensive -- way to share Mishawaka's history. Staff writer Laureen Fagan: lfagan@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6344